Soffit ventilated attics and ventilator members therefor



Aug. 28, 1962 R. L. LEIGH 3,051,071

SOFFIT VENTILATED ATTICS AND VENTILATOR MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed April 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR.

Roberf A. Ae/y'fi BY 2 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 28, 1962 R. L. LEIGH 3,051,071

SOFFIT VENTILATED ATTICS AND VENTILATOR MEMBERS THEREFOR Filed April 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIVM HI F/G.6. U /5 Fl INVENTOR. R0 er? Lie/7% BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofilice 3,051,071 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 3 051,071 SOFFIT VENTILATED ATTICS AND VENTILATOR MEMBERS THEREFOR Robert L. Leigh, Coopersville, Mich, assignor to An Control Products, Inc., Coopersville, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 7255020 3 Claims. (Cl. 98-37) This invention relates to ventilating means for attics including roof and soflit ventilator members.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an attic ventilating means including soffit ventilator members which may be very quickly and easily installed as a unit and adds to the appearance of the eaves.

Second, to provide an elongated sofiit ventilator member which presents a smooth upper surface and may be formed of relatively thin material such as sheet aluminum, for example, and at the same time is substantially rigid.

Third, to provide an elongated solfit ventilator member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced louvered ventilator openings.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic end elevation View of the upper portion of a building embodying the invention, the direction of circulation of air being indicated by arrows.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a building embodying the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view of one form of my improved sofiit ventilator member.

.FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view thereof in transverse section.

FIG. 6 is a side view of another form or embodiment of the invention, the modification being in the stiffening or reinforcing features.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side view illustrating another modification of the invention, the modification being in the stiffening means.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

In the accompanying drawing, 1 represents the wall of a building, 2 the roof thereof and 3 an attic. The roof projects beyond the side wall forming caves of substantial width and having a front or facia member 4 which has a downwardly projecting edge portion 5, that is, it projects downwardly beyond the soflit frarne pieces, only one of which is shown at 6. It will be understood that these structural features of the building are greatly varied in practice; therefore, they are shown mainly conventionally in the accompanying drawing.

In the structure illustrated the front edge 7 of the sofit member 8 is spaced from the lower edge of the eaves face member 4 and the space between these members is closed by the elongated sofiit ventilator member 9 which may be desirably formed of a strip of sheet aluminum stock although it may be economically formed of stainless steel or plastic. The sofiit ventilator member 9 is provided with longitudinally spaced louvered openings 10, the louvers 11 being struck downwardly from the plane of the ventilator member and being rearwardly inclined so that the louvers serve as guards to minimize the entrance of water and snow and to check wind.

In the preferred embodiment the louvered openings are surrounded by downwardly projecting rectangular beads 3.2 which stilfen the ventilator member both transversely and longitudinally but they are spaced so as to permit the securing of the ventilator member by means of nails or other fastcnings indicatedat 13. Nails or like fastenings may be driven through the ventilator member and into some supporting part such for example as joists. The ventilator member is not provided with preformed holes for the reason that it is produced in strips of substantial length and cut to particular requirements, and the positioning of the support members in relation to each other varies greatly in different buildings.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is the same as that shown in FIG. 5 with the exception that the reinforcing ribs or beading 12 surrounding the louvered openings is omitted and the longitudinal edges are conformed to provide downwardly projecting beadlike reinforcing ribs 14. It should be understood that these ribs or beads 14 are continuous.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 with the exception that the longitudinal edges of the sofiit ventilator member have downturned flanges 15 instead of the beaded reinforcing member 14 of FIGS. 6 and 7. The structure of FIGS. 8 and 9 is somewhat more economical to produce than that of FIGS. 6 and 7 in the matter of forming and it would require slightly less stock. The structure illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 requires somewhat more stock than the preferred embodiment in which the rectangular reinforcing ribs and the louvered openings may be formed simultaneously by forming dies.

These soffit ventilator members are adapted for use in widely varying building structures. I am aware that it is old to install sofiit ventilators in openings especially formed therefor in eaves, that is, the openings are especially designed and spaced to receive the sofiit ventilators. The continuous strip or elongated sofiit ventilator of this invention merely requires that the solfit member 6 be of such width as to permit the positioning of the sofiit ventilator member between it and the eaves face member or a longitudinal opening left in the eaves at any point of suitable width to receive the ventilator member.

The roof ventilator conventionally illustrated at 16 is desirably positioned at an elevated point in the roof.

I have not attempted to illustrate various adaptations as it is believed the disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A building including an attic, and a roof having eaves including a front member and a .sofiit member the front edge of which is in inwardly spaced relation to said front member providing an elongated opening therebetween, and an elongated'soflit ventilator member disposed in said elongated opening and constituting a closure therefor, said soffiet ventilator member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced louvered openings therein, the louvers extending longitudinally of said ventilator member and being disposed in forwardly projecting inclined relation to the plane of the body portion thereof, said ventilator member having a downwardly projecting bead-like rib surrounding each group of said louvers, said ribs constituting reinforcing and stiflfening means for said sofiit ventilator member, the roof having an air ventilator disposed at an elevation substantially above that of the said soflit ventilator member.

2. A building including an attic, and a roof having eaves including a front member and a soffit member the front edge of which is in inwardly spaced relation to said front member providing an elongated opening therebe tween, and an elongated soflit ventilator member disposed said soirlt ventilator member.

3. An elongated unitary sofiit ventilator member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced louvered openings therein with the louvers extending longitudinally thereof and in forwardly inclined relation to the plane of the body portion thereof, said soffit ventilator member having a downwardly projecting bead-like rim surrounding each group of said louvers and constituting reinforcing and stiffening means for the ventilator member.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Howell June 21, 1892 Renaud Mar. 12, 1929 Pearce Dec. 20, 1932 Anderson Dec. 30, 1941 Warp Dec. 27, 1949 Frisby July 24, 1956 Frankland Oct. 23, 1956 Noyes et a1. Ian. 15, 1957 Peirson Feb. 12, 1957 Katt et a1. Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 1906 

